"The Petroleum Conservation Research Association should draw a proposal for rating automobiles according to their fuel efficiency," he said while inaugurating Petroleum Conservation Fortnight-2013 on Wednesday. Petroleum secretary chairs PCRA, an arm of the oil ministry for efficient energy utilization and environment protection.

The government will work on the proposal soon, which would be similar to star-ratings given by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to electrical appliances, officials in the oil ministry said. "Fuel efficiency ratings of vehicles is possible after consulting all stakeholders. BEE, an arm of the power ministry, rates refrigerator, fans and air conditioners on the basis of energy they consume, encouraging customers to purchase the more energy-efficient appliances.

Moily also asked PCRA to start energy audit for conservation and optimum utilization of oil & gas in the country. "We should submit energy audit report on various sectors to the people every year. There should be proper energy budgeting by everyone utilizing energy," he said. The Minister said, he would soon review the issues of energy audit and ratings of vehicles.

Oil ministry has also approached the finance ministry to impose additional tax on diesel vehicles as sale of big fuel guzzlers are on rise because diesel is cheap in India. "This is an old proposal of the oil ministry to dissuade consumption of highly subsidized diesel, but auto lobby is against any such move," a senior government official said.

Moily said the oil ministry would try to reduce energy import dependency from current 80% to 50% by 2020. "It can be further reduced by 75% in 2025 and we can achieve self sufficiency by 2030. I can tell you, we can do it," he said. India imports over 80% crude oil it processes. Energy conservation is a must for fast growing economies like India, Moily said.